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Impact of drainage on peatland soil environments and greenhouse gas emissions in Northeast China

The relationship between enterprise human capital structure and international M&A performance based on cultural differences in China

With the rapid development of China’s economy, increasing Chinese companies have acquired international technology resources, improved production efficiency, opened up international markets through international mergers and acquisitions, and realized the expansion of enterprises in the global capitalist market. Especially in recent years, the rapid development of international mergers and acquisitions of Chinese enterprises, as well as the increasingly frequent activity in the international market, makes the performance of international mergers and acquisitions become the focus of attention of enterprises, and also increasingly become a focus of scholars. Although the human capital structure of enterprises as an internal factor of enterprises has been studied by most scholars. However, in the existing literature, more studies focus on the impact of corporate human capital structure on corporate performance, while the impact of human capital on international M&A performance is not sufficient. The performance of international mergers and acquisitions is relatively a more complex factor, which is influenced by more factors and has higher research value. Based on the performance of international mergers and acquisitions, this paper explores how the human capital structure of enterprises can play a role in improving the competitiveness of enterprises under the background of economic globalization, so as to provide reference for enterprises to gain competitive advantage in the international market. This study selects Chinese listed companies with international mergers and acquisitions from 2008 to 2015 as research samples, and empirically analyzed the relationship between corporate human capital structure and international M&A performance. The four conclusions obtained are as follows: (1) Employee compensation, employee education level and employee technical personnel ratio are significantly positively correlated with the company’s international M&A performance; (2) Enterprise training in both short-term and long-term. Neither of them has a important impact on the company’s international M&A performance; (3) Employee turnover has a critical negative impact on the company’s international M&A performance; (4) After introducing cultural differences as a regulatory variable, it is found that cultural differences can weaken the impact of human capital factors on the performance of international M&A. Finally, this paper puts forward suggestions on how to better utilize the human capital advantages of the company in the global economic background with the intention of improving the performance of international M&A.

Techno-economic analysis of distribution system at various load models using MEWOA algorithm

Evaluation of a digital entomological surveillance planning tool for malaria vector control: Three country mixed methods pilot study

Background Vector control remains the principal method to prevent malaria transmission and has led to significant reductions in malaria incidence across endemic regions. However, such gains have stagnated, underscoring the need to tailor vector control to local drivers of transmission. An Entomological Surveillance Planning Tool (ESPT) was designed to translate normative guidance into an operational tool that supports cost effective, locally tailored, and evidence-based vector control. To facilitate ESPT implementation, an interactive digital toolkit (eSPT) was created to support question-based surveillance planning. Methods The eSPT was evaluated with 49 target users in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique. The eSPT was introduced to participants through facilitated workshops. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining pre- and post-intervention surveys with qualitative measures to assess the impact of the eSPT on knowledge, self-efficacy and work practices related to entomological surveillance planning. Qualitative methods were used to explore the acceptability and utility of the eSPT. Results Quantitative measures showed that the facilitated eSPT workshop increased participants’ knowledge and self-efficacy in question-based entomological surveillance planning. Target users responded positively to the eSPT, reporting high usability scores and satisfaction with the interface. Respondents from academic institutes, central government and international NGOs reported the eSPT to be a useful training tool and believed it could provide substantial efficiencies in the planning process. Further user testing, customizability and compatibility with mobile devices was recommended to enhance the eSPT’s usefulness as a planning tool, especially at the local government level. Conclusions Interactive digital toolkits could be an engaging, efficient, and accessible way to build research and surveillance capacity within relevant organizations and local authorities. This is achieved by combining tailored information and guidance, with functions that enable the development of a planning document, in an easy-to-follow stepwise process. To maximize the usability and usefulness of these toolkits, target users must be centered in the design.

Poly-γ-glutamic acid alleviates slow transit constipation by regulating aquaporin and gut microbes

Introduction of AGPAT3 gene as a regulator of cisplatin resistance in A2780 ovarian endometrioid carcinoma cell line

Ovarian cancer therapy remains a challenge for human health, partly due to chemotherapy resistance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance is crucial. Therefore, to identify genes involved in cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer, RNA-seq analysis of A2780cp (cisplatin-resistant) and A2780 (cisplatin-sensitive) cell lines was performed, revealing 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3) as a differentially expressed candidate gene. First, MTT analysis confirmed the drug resistance of A2780cp and the sensitivity of A2780 cell lines. Subsequent reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting analyses revealed elevated AGPAT3 and mTOR expression in A2780cp cells compared with A2780 cells. Additionally, western blotting showed increased p-mTOR (phospho-mTOR)/mTOR and p-S6K (phospho-S6K)/S6K ratios in A2780cp cells. The overexpression of AGPAT3 in A2780 cells led to increased p-mTOR/mTOR and p-S6K/S6K ratios and increased IC50 values, as shown by RT-qPCR, western blotting, and MTT analysis. Conversely, shRNA-mediated downregulation of AGPAT3 resulted in reduced p-mTOR/mTOR and p-S6K/S6K ratios. At the cellular level, AGPAT3 overexpression in A2780 cells increased survival rates, decreased apoptosis, and caused G2/M cell cycle arrest under cisplatin treatment, as detected by apoptosis assay, and cell cycle flow cytometry analysis. Overall, we conclude that AGPAT3 is involved in cisplatin resistance in A2780cp cells and propose that targeting this gene or its enzymatic product could help overcome drug resistance.

Hybrid gabor attention convolution and transformer interaction network with hierarchical monitoring mechanism for liver and tumor segmentation

Differences in intervention for patients with acute stroke according to the manpower of neurosurgeons

Background and objectives Stroke, a leading global cause of death, poses a substantial health burden. The incidence of stroke is high in an aging society. Appropriate healthcare resources are crucial for providing prompt interventions to patients with stroke. We investigated the factors associated with the choice between conservative and interventional treatments, including an analysis of the number of neurosurgeons required for interventional care, for patients with acute stroke. Methods We utilized health insurance claims data from hospitals submitted to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2018 and 2021. The data covered 60,661 patients with acute stroke admitted to the emergency room in tertiary or general hospitals. The number of hospital neurosurgeons was the key variable of interest; conservative and interventional treatments were the independent variables. Using a multi-level analysis, we identified the individual- and hospital-level factors associated with interventional treatment by constructing four models. Results The odds of patients with hemorrhage and ischemic stroke receiving intervention were 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31–0.52] and 0.51 [95% CI, 0.39–0.65] times lower, respectively, in the group with fewer neurosurgeons. We categorized the number of neurosurgeons and indicated an association between a minimum of three neurosurgeons and stroke treatment. Conclusion We demonstrated an association between individual- and hospital-level factors and the intervention for patients with different types of stroke. We predicted the number of neurosurgeons needed for intervention. These findings can be used for the efficient distribution and utilization of healthcare resources to improve public health.

Combination of gut microbiota, proinflammatory cytokine, and 18F-FDG PET as potential indicators for predicting breast cancer recurrence

Effects of pericapsular nerve group block versus local anesthetic infiltration for postoperative analgesia in total hip arthroplasty: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction This protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide synthesized evidence to determine whether pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is superior to local anesthetic infiltration in controlling postoperative pain in total hip arthroplasty. Methods and analysis PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and the Cochrane library will be systematically searched from their inception to December 30, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the analgesic effects of PENG block with local anesthetic infiltration for total hip arthroplasty will be included. The time to first analgesics requirement (analgesia duration) will be the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include the postoperative analgesics consumption over 24 hours, visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and movement, and the incidence of adverse effects. Statistical analysis will be conducted by RevMan 5.4 software. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not applicable. The results of this study will be publicly published. PROSPERO registration number CRD42024590888

Persistence and clearance rates of human papillomaviruses in a cohort of women treated or not treated for cervical dysplasia in northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Persistence of high-risk Human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) infection increases the risk of precancerous lesions development. The aim of this study was to assess the persistence and clearance rate of HPV infection. A prospective cohort study was conducted between January and December 2023 among patients attending gynecology unit of FHCSH in Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. Out of 297 study participants, 95 women with HPV infected and cytological abnormalities were followed; of these 93.7% were HPV positive at the baseline study. Of which, 46.1% did not receive treatment, the rest 53.9% were treated. Among the women without treatment, HPV persistence and clearance rates were 65.9% and 34.1% respectively while persistence rate of 46.3% and clearance rate of 53.7% were observed in 12-month follow up period. Among women who received treatment, HPV persistence rate of 45.8% and clearance rate of 54.2% were recorded in six while persistence rate of 33.3% and clearance rate of 66.7% were observed in 12- month follow up period. The findings of our study indicated that the high persistence rate and low clearance rate of HPV infection. Detection of persistent HPV infection without treatment or after treatment should be considered as the main risk factor for the development or recurrence of cervical neoplasia.

Analysing how AI-powered chatbots influence destination decisions

This study aims to explore the role of destination chatbots as innovative tools in travel planning, focusing on their ability to enhance user experiences and influence decision-making processes. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, Enterprise Content Management, and Information Systems Security models, the study examines the psychological, emotional, and technological factors that drive user satisfaction, continued use, and intention to visit a destination. Understanding these factors is crucial for improving chatbot design and optimizing their implementation in the tourism industry. A total of 312 responses were collected from university students who regularly engage in tourism-related activities. The survey employed a structured questionnaire with items measuring information quality, user satisfaction, perceived enjoyment, usefulness, and behavioral intentions using a 7-point Likert scale. Structural equation modelling [SEM] was used to analyze the relationships between constructs, allowing us to evaluate the validity and reliability of the model. The results reveal that information quality positively enhances user satisfaction, perceived enjoyment, and perceived usefulness. Moreover, perceived enjoyment and usefulness are critical psychological and emotional drivers influencing users’ decision to continue utilizing chatbots. Additionally, the analysis highlights the intention to continue using destination chatbots as a strong predictor of tourists’ intention to visit the destination. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of technology acceptance and user behavior in tourism, while providing practical insights for destination managers and developers to enhance chatbot features and improve traveler engagement.

Proposal of novel Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNEC) for metals in freshwater using Species Sensitivity Distribution for different taxonomic groups

Estimation of the domestic water demand‒supply scenario and its key driving factors in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metropolitan Area, Pakistan

Domestic water availability is intricately linked with a growing population, urbanization, and associated land use/land cover change (LULCC). Precise and periodic assessments of water supply and demand are imperative for the sustainability of urban ecosystems. The present study provides a situational analysis of the domestic water supply and demand and LULC to quantify their impacts on water resources in the rapidly growing water scarce metropolitan area of Islamabad-Rawalpindi. Data regarding demography, water demand and supply were collected from concerned government departments, and the water demand-supply balance was projected for the years 2021–2050 through simple equations. Two remotely sensed satellite imageries (Landsat 8 OLI and Landsat 5 TM) were retrieved and supervised classification was performed for land use land cover (LULC) analysis during last two decades 1999 and 2019.The results revealed that the current domestic water supply is 65 million gallons per day (MGD) and 54.074 MGD in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, respectively. The per capita water availability is estimated as 60 GPCD (gallons per capita per day) in Islamabad, whereas it is 76.40 GPCD in Rawalpindi. Water demand has outstripped conventional supplies, leading to deficits of 52 MGD and 18.50 MGD in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, respectively. The groundwater depth has decreased from 22.8 m to 56 m in Islamabad and from 37.8 m to 59 m in Rawalpindi. This decline is positively correlated with the density of installed tube wells, borehole wells, demographic factors and LULCC. LULC analysis depicts rapid decline in open land which has been replaced by settlements. Moreover, the area of open land decreased significantly from 68.46% to 18.92%whereas the area under the built environment increased significantly from 7.77% to 36.51% from 1999—2019. However, increase in the forest cover and water was insignificant. This land transformation contributed to a reduction in the water table depth and recharge to aquifers and escalating water demand. The study concluded that the groundwater resources of twin cities are under stress. In addition, forecasted water demand will also increase in the future with increasing population, economic growth and lifestyle changes while increasing groundwater abstraction, and diminished water infiltration rates due to urban expansion will compromise water availability for future generations. The findings provide valuable information to concerned agencies, policy makers and stakeholders to take appropriate long-term measures to address repercussions of unplanned urbanization and LULC to ensure a sustainable water supply to the urban populace.

GelMA as scaffold material for epithelial cells to emulate the small intestinal microenvironment

LC-MS analysis and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activity of Jumli Marshi rice from Nepal: An in vitro and in silico investigation to validate their potential as a functional food

Jumli Marshi (J. Marshi), a native rice cultivar in Nepal, is gaining popularity owing to its health benefits for obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. However, scientific evidence verifying its therapeutic potential is lacking until November 2024. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the phytoconstituents and evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic properties of J. Marshi, along with its ADME toxicity profile, using both in vitro and in silico approaches. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of a 70% methanol extract from J. Marshi identified ten plant-based compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and γ-oryzanol. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant properties, neutralizing DPPH free radicals with a fifty-percentage inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 42.65 ± 3.9 µg/mL, compared to ascorbic acid’s IC50 of 4.12 ± 0.7 µg/mL. It also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) ranging from 7 to 11 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.56 mg/mL, compared to standard antibiotics meropenem (ZOI: 24 ± 1.6 mm; MIC: 1.56 mg/mL). The enzymatic assay demonstrated that the J. Marshi extract inhibits fifty percent of enzyme activity at a concentration (EC50) of > 1000 µg/mL for α-amylase and 250 ± 2.5 µg/mL for α-glucosidase, in contrast to the standard acarbose, exhibiting an EC50 of 35.5 ± 1.5 µg/mL for α-amylase and 189.5 ± 1.9 µg/mL for α-glucosidase. In silico docking studies revealed strong interactions of rice phytoconstituents with target protein catalytic residues, particularly gamma-oryzanol for α-amylase (−10.0 kcal/mol) and chlorogenic acid for α-glucosidase (−7.7 kcal/mol), compared to acarbose (−6.9 to −7.1 kcal/mol). ADME toxicity analysis suggested that tricin and gamma-oryzanol had the best drug-likeness and safety profiles. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the presence of bioactive phenolic acids and flavonoids. Furthermore, it offers scientific evidence supporting significant antioxidant and α-glucosidase-inhibitory properties, confirming the potential applications of J. Marshi rice as a functional food used for the management of diabetes.

Optimizing office building performance in the HSWW region of China using simulation with Hyperopt CatBoost and SPEA2

Exploring development pathways for mining rural areas in the context of urban–rural integration: A case study in Shanxi Province, China

In the process of urban–rural integration, rural depression poses a severe challenge to urban-rural coordination and regional sustainable development. Exploring development pathways for resource-dependent rural areas is an important measure to implement rural revitalization. Mining industry, shows beneficial in boosting the economies whiles brings ecological, physical/psychological and social problems to local community members. Therefore, efforts should be made to rural sustainable development in mining resource- dependent regions. Taking the traditional mining-industry Shanxi Province in North China as research case, this paper seeks to investigate the crucial factors influencing rural transformation development (RTD) of mining regions and explore development pathways for resource-dependent rural areas. First, rural economic-labor coupling mode and rural development type of 30 mining industries-based counties were determined based on the proposed rural economic-labor elasticity coefficient, followed by the hot spot analysis for understanding the spatial correlation of different coupling modes. Then, non-parametric test was applied for feature difference test. Finally, mining rural areas transformation pathways were given by using land use transfer matrix and chord diagram. Results indicated that the mean value and rank mean value of each indicator of different rural development types were basically consistent in the distribution form, while coupling modes showed a distinct difference. This research can provide important references for rural transformation promotion, rural revitalization and sustainable rural development of resource-dependent regions, especially for developing countries.

Neural correlates of reading aloud on the autism spectrum

Exploring the experiences of cancer patients: What drives them to seek treatment outside their residential area and what are the experiences resulting from that decision? A qualitative study

Background The centralizing cancer care has been a persistent trend, often justified by the volume-outcome relationship. However, this trend raises concerns about potential negative impacts, such as increased patient travel burden, treatment delays, and worsened regional disparities in cancer care. Consequently, there is a growing need for the establishment of a regional comprehensive cancer care system to minimize these disparities. In this study, we explored the treatment experiences of cancer patients who received care at medical institutions outside their residential areas to understand their overall experiences with cancer care and identify areas for improvement in the healthcare system. Methods The participants in this study were 7 residents of Ulsan Metropolitan City who had experienced hospitalization for cancer treatment at a medical institution in another region. In-depth interviews were conducted with each participant for about an hour, exploring the participants’ experiences in the process of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up management. A semi-structured guide was used for in-depth interviews. Results The participants experienced fear after receiving an unexpected possibility of cancer diagnosis as a biopsy result. They wanted a definitive diagnosis as soon as possible, which was not realistic, as a tertiary general hospital in Ulsan featured waiting times of at least 6 months. Participants were overwhelmed with anxiety, and continued searching for information on the disease by themselves. Most of the processes of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up management at medical institutions in other regions were a series of hardships. Participants had partially recovered, but were still concerned about becoming unwell. Participants stated that reliable medical institutions in the region and sufficient information related to cancer are needed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Conclusion The results of this study reveal that cancer patients face various challenges throughout their long journey of treatment. To establish a comprehensive regional cancer care system, it is necessary to expand the availability of quality cancer care across all regions, strengthen the coordination function of primary care institutions, and develop post-discharge cancer management systems using patient-reported outcomes.